AUBURN, Alabama – Auburn offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler was a college quarterback and has coached a lot of college quarterbacks, and he says that gives him an understanding of how to handle the ups and down Kiehl Frazier has experienced the first three games of the season.

It's about passing, Loeffler says, but it's about a quarterback's psyche, too.

"I've been in shoes before. I understand all the things he's going through," Loeffler says. "I'm able to coach him hard, coach him tough, but I have the mentality to put my arm around him, too. That's always been my approach to all the guys I've ever had."

Auburn in slowly bringing Frazier along, and that slow progression may be on display when LSU visits Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday night. Auburn's offense will likely be built around the run with Frazier acting in a complementary role.

Loeffler says he's still trying to find the right balance for Frazier as the quarterback finds his way.

Frazier is learning a new game, even from his limited play last season when he operated in the spread offense. Now, he's in a pro-style offense.

Perhaps more than that, coach Gene Chizik has talked on several occasions about Frazier needing to show the ability to overcome disappointments and interceptions, something he hardly experienced when he was a top high school prospect.

"I certainly think it’s challenging for a young guy who’s never really had to overcome those things," Chizik said. "The quarterback role in this league is very mental. That’s both when good things happen and when challenging things happen to you. I think it really depends on the individual, but again, if you’re going to play quarterback in this league, that’s what you have to be able to do, so there’s really no option if you’re going to be effective the next game.

"He’s been good with overcoming the adversity two weeks ago to playing better this past week. Every week is going to be a learning experience for him, and there will be different challenges that come the next week based on something that happened the week before. He’s going to have to continue to grow up, which I think he is, and work through those challenges."

Auburn's game plan Saturday could be centered on trying to get Frazier in favorable situations early. That was the plan last week when his first five passes were drop offs to running backs or short passes to wide receivers. That set up a 48-yard pretty-as-you-please long pass to Sammie Coates for an apparent touchdown, but it was called by because of an illegal formation.

Still, Frazier completed eight of his first nine pass attempts.

"The first half as a whole we executed pretty well," Frazier said Tuesday night. The passing dropped off considerably in the second half, but Frazier left the field feeling pretty good.

"I feel a lot more comfortable," Frazier said.

That was the whole goal.

"The main thing is trying to get him some success early in the game," Chizik said.

And having a short memory, Chizik said.

"It’s about poise and character and confidence, and you can’t be shaken," Chizik said. "That’s easier said than done, when you have everybody telling you how good you are or how bad you are or all of the other things that are out there, but that comes with the job, and he knows that. We’ve had several discussions on that, and he’ll continue to grow."

Either way, Auburn isn't likely to ask Frazier to pass his team past LSU. Auburn has the fewest completions and the fewest yards passing in the SEC. Likely, Frazier will be asked to direct the running game.

"Our plan is to never put a game entirely on a quarterback, whoever the quarterback is here," Chizik said. "We have to be able to move the football.

"Running the football is obviously imperative when it comes to trying to take a quarterback and continue to see him grow.

"We have to figure out a way to run the ball to take the pressure off our quarterback some and be able to throw the ball as well, but you mainly start taking pressure off the quarterback by finding ways to run the ball."

As for LSU, Frazier says he has his own scouting report.

"They're fast and athletic, just like always," he said. "They'll just out-athletic you."